{"id":39915,"date":"2023-03-22T13:46:33","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/?post_type=country&p=39915"},"modified":"2024-09-03T13:22:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T11:22:18","slug":"afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"country","link":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/country\/afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Afghanistan has been going through different conflicts non-stop since 1979, when tribal people rebelled against the Communist party, starting a war between the Soviet Union and the Mujahideen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Soviets were defeated but then, Mujahideen warlords began to fight each other over power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disappointed that Islamic law had not been installed after the Soviets were kicked out, a former Mujahid named Mullah Omar founded a movement named Taliban and, by 1996, they controlled 90% of Afghanistan\u2019s territory, including Kabul, ruling until 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, the American Invasion came, withdrawing nearly 20 years later, when the Taliban took over again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afghanistan, however, is more than conflict; this former Silk Road country is a melting point of cultures and civilizations, visible in the extreme ethnic diversity and jaw-dropping shrines, besides being home to some of the kindest people on earth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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need to know for traveling in Afghanistan<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Quick facts<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Capital<\/strong>: Kabul<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population<\/strong>: 38.3 million (37th)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Languages<\/strong>: Pashto, Dari<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Area<\/strong>: 652,867km\u00b2 (40th largest country)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Visa<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

You can get your visa in less than 24 hours at the embassies of Dubai, Islamabad, Peshawar and Doha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also at the embassies of Madrid, London or Berlin, among others, depending on your residence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More info in our visa guide<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Getting in<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

There are daily flights from both Dubai and Islamabad. Check Kam Air and Fly Dubai. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also get in from the Khyber Pass in Pakistan, as well as Iran and Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Travel Insurance<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

IATI Insurance<\/a><\/strong> is one of the very few that covers travel in Afghanistan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GET A QUOTE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Best time to visit<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In Winter, Afghanistan is covered in snow, it’s a beautiful time to visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring and autumn are the best times to travel anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer is the best for visiting in Bamyan and the Wakhan Corridor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Permits<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Independent travelers will need different permits to travel around the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More information here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Is Afghanistan safe during Taliban rule?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Afghanistan<\/picture><\/figure>
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Before the Taliban took over in 2021, the country was in a civil war and the risk of being kidnapped was extremely high. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that the Taliban are ruling, the war is over and security has improved a lot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, remember that security is relative, and that Islamic State Khorasan has carried out several attacks, including on a group of tourists in May 2024, where 3 Spanish citizens died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can read our analysis on safety and conclusions on the attack<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Top experiences in Afghanistan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Crazy Kabul<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As sophisticated as Iran and as wild as Pakistan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Blue Mosque<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps, the most jaw-dropping sight in all of Central Asia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The mountains of Bamyan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most mesmerizing Silk Road landscapes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Taliban Kandahar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heartland of the Pashtun is where the Taliban movement was founded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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tips for Afghanistan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Accommodation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

There aren’t many hotels used to accommodate foreign visitors but you can always find a few in Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar, Bamyan, and Herat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Independent travel<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Traveling around Afghanistan independently is allowed but you must arrange necessary permits and be prepared to deal with the many Taliban checkpoints, who will certainly make you waste a lot of time. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Transportation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Most likely, you’ll be traveling in a private car but independent travelers should know that public transportation is cheap and that you can go to most towns and cities. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ALL MY ARTICLES ON AFGHANISTAN<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":40816,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39915","country","type-country","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country\/39915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/country"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}